share:

FULL SYNOPSIS

powered by AFI

Art appraiser Raymond Fontaine and his secretary, Karen Williams, visit the clifftop villa of Count Paolo Barbarelli in Ravello to appraise his art treasures. They meet Cora, a 19-year-old girl who lost her memory in a skiing accident some years before; Paolo claims her as his daughter. Karen and Paolo fall in love, but Cora begs Paolo to send Karen away. Karen, attempting to win Cora's friendship, brings her a gift of a Christmas tree, and, while they talk, Cora's mind clears temporarily. She reveals that she is really Paolo's wife and that he is using her family's money to buy art treasures, but Paolo arrives before she can produce documentation to prove her story. Paolo tells Karen that Cora's story is only a fantasy of her disturbed mind. Next morning, Cora is found dead at the foot of the cliff, and though the police attribute the death to suicide, Karen finds Cora's shawl nearby; moreover, caught in the shawl is a cufflink from a set given Paolo by Karen. Through a secret passage, Karen finds the other link in Cora's bedroom and also discovers the passport and birth certificate that prove the truth of Cora's story. Later, while Karen is struggling with the murderous Paolo in the garden, Paolo's savage watchdog lunges at her back, causing Paolo to fall into the fountain. Though Karen tries to rescue him, the vicious dog prevents her from getting near his master, and she is forced to stand by helplessly while Paolo drowns. Fontaine arrives in time to witness the end of the incident.